S. African Bull Elephant in Rut Destroys Volkswagen, Sapa Says

Dec. 31 (Bloomberg) -- A South African bull elephant was
killed by national parks personnel in the Kruger National Park
after it trampled a blue Volkswagen and pushed the car for 400
meters (1,312 feet), Ike Phaahla, a parks spokesman said, the
South African Press Association reported.

The animal turned on the car after a South Africvan couple
driving it followed it to a water hole, Sapa said. It was put down
because it was considered to be a danger to other tourists.

The elephant was in musth, a period of heightened
testosterone likened to the rut experienced by stags, Sapa said.
The condition usually results in the elephants becoming more
agressive to both humans and other pachyderms.

The woman in the car was advised to go to hospital for observation
while the man was said to be in shock, Sapa said. Their names were not
disclosed.